Improvement in safety-regulators for pumps and water-pipes



T. J. SMITH. Safety-Regulator for Pumps and Water Pipes.

No. 214,463. Patented April 15, 1879.

e WITNESSES: INVENTOR! I BY r ATTORNEYS.

N-PETERS PNoTo-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON a CV UNITED. STATES PATENT'OFFIGEA THOMAS J. SMITH, on NEW YORK,

N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO WILLIAM QUINN, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT lN SAFETY-REGULATORS FOR PUMPS AND WATER-PIPES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 214,463, dated April15, 1879; application filed March 14, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. SMITH, of the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented a new and Improved Safety-Regulator for Pumpsand Water-Pipes, of which the following is a specification.

My regulator is applied in connection with water-pipes in buildings,with the object, first, to avoid the necessity of a separate line ofpipe from the water-level to the pump on each floor; and, secondly, toautomatically shut off the connection to the street-main when thepressure of the water exceeds the usual point, and without preventingthe use of the pumps while the increased pressure continues.

The invention consists in a hollow cylinder connected in the line ofpipes and containing a float,-which is acted upon by pressure of thewater to close a valve and shut off the water. The float also operatesan air-valve that admits air to enter the cylinder and open thewater-valve when necessary.

The construction and operation will be explained in connection with theaccompanying drawing, wherein the regulator is shown by a verticallongitudinal section.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A is a cylinder, having within it a float, B, fitted to slide freely.The bottom of cylinder A is connected to the water-su pply pipe 0, andapipe, D, leads to the pump, so that the wa' ter passes through cylinderA beneath float B. In the upper end of cylinder A is a ring, a, that isformed with a valve-seat for a diskvalve, 1), which opens outward, andis connected by a stem, 12, with float B. The valve 1) and the openingare covered by a cap, 0, that is attached upon ring a, and is perforatedat the top for admission of air. Within cap 0 is an elastic ball-valve,d, which, when the regulator fails to work properly and water rises tothe top of the cylinder, is pressed against thecontracted sides of cap0, and prevents escape of water through the perforations of the cap. Thevalve b prevents the pump from drawing 1n air.

The coupling-joint to water-pipe C is formed with a seat for adownwardly-opening disk- .pump may still be operated.

valve, 0, that is connected by a stem, 6, with float B. The connectionof valves 0 and b to their stems is made by a screw in any suitablemanner, to permit their adjustment relatively to each other.

In the pipe D is fitted a check-valve, f.

The regulator described is positioned be tween the pump and water-supplyat a point above or below the watenlevel. In most cases it will be abovethe level to which the water rises during the day, and when, byincreased pressure during the night, the water rises into cylinder, thefloat will be raised, valve 0 closed, and the water out off. This actionprevents flooding of buildings and waste of water from cocks which areleft open. When the pressure of water is sufflcient to close valve 6,the In that case the first stroke will remove the water beneath float Band tend to create a vacuum. The air-pressure on the top of float B,acting upon a large area, will overcome the pressure of water on valve0, and open that valve for the water to enter.

In buildings having a pump 011 each floor it has been necessary toconnect each pump with the water-level by a separate line of pipes, forthe reason that if the cooks on a lower floor are left open water cannotbe raised by pumps above. In such cases the regulator will be applied toeach pump in a branch from a single rising pipe, and the pipe D of eachregulator will connect to the pump. If an upper pump is then worked, thecheck-valve f of the lower regulator will prevent access of air to therising pipe.

I do not limit myself to the exact construction shown and described, asthe regulator may be varied somewhat in details without departing frommy invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent 1. The combination, with water supply pipes, ofa regulating apparatus consisting of a cylinder, A, float B, and valvec,which valve is closed by water-pressure and opened by airpressure,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The described regulator for water-supply in the discharge-pipe of theregulator, as set pipes, consisting of the cylinder A, float B, forth.and Valves'e f, combined and arranged to- 4. In combination with thecylinder A of gether, and in connection with the supply and an automaticregulator, the perforated cap 0 discharge pipes, substantially asdescribed and valve 61, as and for the purposes specified.

and shown. THOS. J. SMITH. 3. The combination, with the regulator, con-Witnesses: v structed and operating substantially as de- O. SEDGWICK,

scribed and shown, of the check-valve f, fitted GEO. D. WALKER.

